Salmon In The Classroom

05/30/2026

Thank you Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Education Team!
We had a great time releasing our salmon.

05/19/2026

We released 194 salmon fry today! These guys were so fast and feisty that we counted them at school (5 at a time) as we moved them from tank to the bucket for travel because they splashed and moved quickly making it hard to count. They were just as excited to leave the bucket and make their way into the lake. The wind kept moving what was left of surface ice on top of the lake so we geared up in the waders and released them first. We played a few games, analyzed the macro invertebrates, and dissected an adult female salmon.
Thank you Copper River Watershed Project , Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE) , Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preservea, Valdez Fisheries Development Assoc. Inc. , and Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission!

05/19/2026

Salmon Release Day! We released 194 salmon fry today! These guys were so fast and feisty that we counted them at school (5 at a time) as we moved them from tank to the bucket for travel because they splashed and moved quickly making it hard to count. They were just as excited to leave the bucket and make their way into the lake. The wind kept moving what was left of surface ice on top of the lake so we geared up in the waders and released them first. We played a few games, analyzed the macro invertebrates, and dissected an adult female salmon. We ended the day with a quick stop at Liberty Falls.
Thank you Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE) , Copper River Watershed Project, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Valdez Fisheries Development Assoc. Inc., Robin Mayo , Diane Ellsworth , Bailey, Hope, Grace and EVERYONE involved with Salmon in the Classroom!

05/08/2026

Our salmon fry love feeding time!

05/05/2026

In 2 weeks, these guys will be released into the wild and on their own!

04/30/2026

The salmon fry are over 1000 CTUs! They are still thriving and will soon be off to their new home.

04/24/2026

April 23rd-CTUs 953
We have increased our feedings to 1/4 tsp about 3-4x daily. They seem to swim mostly at the top waiting to be fed, and it takes them less than 90 seconds to eat up every flake of food. One unfortunate fry got stuck in the filter. By the time we got him out, only the front half of his body remained. We got his body out, but before we could scoop him up with the net he was gobbled up! We decided that maybe we should start feeding them more. It’s a balance making sure the fish are healthy and keeping the tank healthy. 25 days until release!

04/21/2026

Salmon Update: There hasn’t been anything new to share lately..they eat, they swim and they p**p! This is the most aggressive batch we have raised-they see food and they attack! We have not had any losses in awhile, and the water quality checks have looked great-no nitrates.

04/12/2026

Mrs. Hodges interview with NPR on Salmon in the Classroom.

Although many Alaskan students are familiar with salmon fishing, raising them gives them a new perspective on writing, science, math and art.

04/11/2026

“You're gonna need a bigger boat.” 🦈